You can read more about my fascination with blurry windows here.
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes | Tagged abstract, colors, Inspiration, landscape, nature, perspective, Photography, spring | 6 Comments »
In the following 1965 debate that took place between James Baldwin and William F. Buckley, Baldwin refers to “forty years ago when I was born …” Perhaps, because of my age, the phrase struck a chord. The debate takes place at Cambridge University, and its focus is that ever-evolving, often elusive concept of the american dream, and at whose expense that dream is realized. The whole debate is 58 minutes long. With all due respect to Mr. Buckley and his rebuttal, I am encouraging/challenging people to listen to at least the first part of the debate, the remarks of Baldwin. Whatever one’s political or social leanings, his command of language is a marvel to watch and listen to.
As I listened to Baldwin I was saddened at the timelessness of his words. Why are his words, spoken nearly fifty years ago, as relevant today? In a related side note, this morning I had the opportunity, by phone, to singalong with my four-year old nephew, Jordan. Apparently we both like to whistle. As I listened to Baldwin, I thought of Jordan and other little family members new to the world. I hope that they learn about Baldwin as a writer and an activist in his own unique way, and that they also learn about the power of words.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged american dream, Cambridge University, current-events, debate, history, James Baldwin, language, power of words, race relations, reflection, William F. Buckley | 3 Comments »
A few images from a return visit to a field in Woburn, Massachusetts.
A very small field in an office park with an amazing variety of wildlife present.
I wasn’t set up to photograph the birds (or record their symphony of birdsong) though I kept catching flashes of bright orange, red, black and gold feathers.
As always, I scared a few rabbits deeper into the underbrush.
No hawks this time or foxes.
In the end …
I mostly focused on the landscape.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged abstract, flowers, Inspiration, landscape, Massachusetts, nature, office park, Photography, Woburn | 4 Comments »
The view outside one of my windows, after the rains ended. The sun still shines. I know that I am a lucky person.
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes | Tagged blooms, Branches, colors, flowers, Inspiration, landscape, nature, Photography, urban landscape | 7 Comments »
or maybe seaweed washed ashore.
In fact, a small bundle of dried spring blossoms found on the ground.
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes | Tagged abstract, blossoms, dried flowers, found objects, Inspiration, nature, Photography | 4 Comments »
Lucy Schildkret Dawidowicz
As part of my research with the Interlude series, I’ve been reading the memoir, From That Place and Time, by Lucy S. Dawidowicz. The narrative focuses on the period 1938-1947, and the author’s time spent pre-war in Vilna, Poland, studying at the Yiddish Scientific Institute (YIVO) and then her later post-war work to identify the remains of the YIVO library. The Interlude series is my attempt to share some of what I’ve learned in my walk through history via the life of Joseph Anthony Horne. The paths of Ms. Dawidowicz and Mr. Horne cross in 1947 in the German city of Offenbach at the Offenbach Archival Depot. More details to follow in the next Interlude, coming soon.
Posted in Inspiration | Tagged books, history, Inspiration, Joseph Anthony Horne, libraries, Lucy Schildkret Dawidowicz, memoir, Monuments Men, Offenbach Archival Depot, Vilna, Yiddish Scientific Institute, YIVO | Leave a Comment »
“It’s just leftovers,” he said. “Leftover mashed potatoes and a single egg. The egg has a little fresh thyme mixed in but really, how much more simple can you get?” Indeed. 😉
Posted in Inspiration, Kitchen Inspirations | Tagged breakfast, eggs, food, food photography, Inspiration, Leftover mashed potatoes, leftovers, meals, potatoes | Leave a Comment »
By on the road, I mean walking around my Somerville neighborhood. Still chilly, but felt good to be out of the house and seeing what spring has to offer.
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, On the Road | Tagged blossoms, Branches, colors, Inspiration, landscape, nature, Photography, Somerville, spring, trees, walking | 3 Comments »
One day I found myself walking along, looking at the world around me. I passed a stand of birch and I found myself thinking, if I only knew how to paint, I’d paint these trees. I kept moving along, but the sight of the trees remained in my mind and I found myself thinking, if only I could write music then maybe I could write a song about the trees. But I know I don’t write music and so I started thinking, if only I could sing then maybe I could find someone else to write the music, but that would only work if I wasn’t shy. Now, I don’t really think I can sing but sometimes when I’m sure I’m alone, some kind of sound passes between my lips. And so that day, with all those if’s put out into the world, I decided to go ahead and try that singing thing. The following soft words emerged in some kind of rhythm.
If I knew how to paint
I’d paint these trees
How the wind does make them sway
Their leaves sunlit
Their branches bent
While high above soars a bird
Nothing Earth-shattering but it did make me feel good to sing and then hum the song for a bit. Only later did I realize that the tune (if that’s the right word) that I used for my trees was for that of Amazing Grace, a point made clear when I viewed one of today’s Cowbird Daily stories. The video short is an excerpt from the journey of another walker, Andrew Forsthoefel. I hope you have a chance to view and listen to the video for yourself. And by the way, that picture above … there must have been a day when I forgot that I couldn’t paint. 😉
Posted in Inspiration, On the Road | Tagged Amazing Grace, Andrew Forsthoefel, arts, compassion, Cowbird Daily, imagination, Inspiration, music, painting, poetry, reflections, storytelling, travel, walking | 5 Comments »
“Never ridicule windows. It is out of windows that many fall to their death. By windows love often enters. Through a window went the bolt that killed King Richard. … When a mob would rule England, it breaks windows, and when a patriot would save her, he taxes them. Out of windows we walk on to lawns in summer and meet men and women, and in winter windows are drums for the splendid music of storms … The windows of the great cathedrals are all their meaning. But for windows we should have to go out-of-doors to see daylight. After the sun, which they serve, I know of nothing so beneficent as windows.” — by Hilaire Belloc in The Path to Rome (1902)
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes | Tagged Hilaire Belloc, imagination, Inspiration, perceptions, The Path to Rome, travel, windows | 9 Comments »
Words + Images 